Posted 2006-04-05 8:56 PM (#40007) Subject: v shaped alignment helper for trailer??
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Northfield, MN
I saw these in a few catologs this winter and want to order one. Anybody know where to start looking and do they really "help" to get the trailer hooked up faster then getting out of the truck 20 times to see you are either to far forward or need to come forword or turn your wheel to the left/right. If there is no one watching I am a pro. But if I even think that some one is peeking at me from the house or watching from a distance, I can;t seem to do it. I also may make it a better hook up between my husband and I!!
Posted 2006-04-05 9:31 PM (#40008 - in reply to #40007) Subject: RE: v shaped alignment helper for trailer??
Member
Posts: 15
Location: Tucson AZ
I have also seen these alignment tools. No experience with one, however, was wondering if they make them for gooseneck hookups. Between a crew cab and tool box, forget seeing the ball.
Posted 2006-04-05 9:44 PM (#40009 - in reply to #40007) Subject: RE: v shaped alignment helper for trailer??
Regular
Posts: 98 Location: Baldwin City, KS 66006
I lie a board lengthways of the bed in line with the ball so I can line my trailer up with the board as I'm backing to get in line with the ball. If you have a string with a washer on each end.....hang it cross ways of the bed above the ball so when the front of the hitch of the gooseneck hits the string you know you're over the ball...... When done..roll it up and put it in your glovebox. The board can always be used for something if in the back of the truck...
Posted 2006-04-05 10:01 PM (#40010 - in reply to #40007) Subject: RE: v shaped alignment helper for trailer??
Expert
Posts: 2689
FIRST time you might get out of the truck 20 times, second attempt might be down to 15 or 12, the exercise is good, after a while you get down to once, maybe twice - except when someone is watching to see how good you are, or you're in a hurry, or it is raining.
There are any number of gizmos for this.
I bought one for a family member, it consists of a pair of brightly colored rods that have magnets on their basses. Place one on the ball, the other one on the coupler and back up using your interior rear view mirror to align them to each other, when the one on the ball falls over you're there. It works.
Someone on this board uses a pair of bungy cords crossed over the bed to help get aligned to their gooseneck hitch, sounds good. I'm fortunate, I have a flatbed and there is a seam right on the centerline.
Posted 2006-04-05 11:08 PM (#40013 - in reply to #40007) Subject: RE: v shaped alignment helper for trailer??
Regular
Posts: 70 Location: Spanaway,Wa
Yeah I think I know what you're talkin' about. Last summer I saw a new gadgit on a truck at our rodeo, It consisted of a special reciever slug that had 2 removable wings that helped guide the tounge over the ball. Once you were all hooked up you just pop them off and toss them behind the seat. It worked very good and was simple as could be. I think it was made by Reese Mfg.
Posted 2006-04-06 6:56 AM (#40017 - in reply to #40011) Subject: RE: v shaped alignment helper for trailer??
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by carlskl on 2006-04-05 11:03 PM
I have a 3 horse pumber pull and my husbands truck has a TOPPER--it sucks trying to hook up unless I have a friend present..
Then I definitiely recommend the magnetic poles I described earlier, they're probably 4ft long and will stick up well above a tailgate and into the topper's rear window area.
The trick is to use ONLY your interior mirror to aim the poles at each other.
I've said it before WRT backing up - "Helpers don't".
v shaped alignment helper for trailer??
